Tinubu enjoined all political stakeholders to desist from violence, intimidation, and harassment, and embrace peace before, during, and after governorship election
The president, who was represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the grand finale of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign, said he had put in place enough security measures to ensure free, fair, and credible election tomorrow.
However, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday, condemned the recent killings in Esa Oke part of the state and the subsequent destruction of property. Adeleke also commiserated with the families of the deceased and other victims of the recent political violence across the state. He ordered more security presence in Esa Oke and its environs.
As part of efforts to ensure security during the Osun State election, Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, announced the prohibition of state government-established security outfits, quasi-security groups, and private security organisations from participating in election-security duties.
Disu said the ban was consistent with established Nigeria Police Force (NPF) election-security directives, in a statement by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu.
The APC rally attracted several APC governors and thousands of party supporters.
Tinubu stated, “Let me assure all Osun indigenes that adequate security havebeen provided all over the state to ensure people come out to cast their votes for the candidate of their choice without any fear or intimidation.
“Feel very free to cast your votes for the candidate of your choice. My advice, however, is that you choose wisely because there is need to link Osun State to the centre. We are waiting for Osun to join us.
“I can assure you that nobody will molest you. You can only be molested on social media and not during voting. Nobody will harass or intimidate one another. Go out and vote a party of your choice and choose wisely.”
For his part, Akpabio said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu fought for democracy, therefore, he would not allow anybody to molest the already established democracy.”
The senate president equally presented the APC flag to the party’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
Akpabio described it as the “flag of authority and power”, saying, “This is your symbol of your authority.”
A statement by Akpabio’s Media Office, explained that Tinubu expressed confidence in APC’s chances of winning Saturday’s election, saying the large turnout at the campaign was evidence of the party’s growing acceptance in the state.
“From the crowd here today, I am more than convinced that APC is the dominant party in Osun State,” he said.
He cited the presence of former governor and erstwhile interim National Chairman of APC, Bisi Akande; former National Secretary of the party, IyiolaOmisore; and Senator Fadahunsi as indications of the party’s strength ahead of the poll.
Akpabio also commended opposition figures and political groups that had expressed support for Oyebamiji, describing the development as evidence of APC’s broad acceptance.
He stated, “Let me, on behalf of Mr President, thank the opposition parties in the state led by former governor and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, for queuing behind our candidate.”
He said the support demonstrated that APC was a peaceful political organisation capable of accommodating people across political divides.
Akpabio also referred to the reported endorsement of Oyebamiji by the Accord Party leadership in the state, saying it further strengthens APC’s position ahead of the election.
Beyond the election, Akpabio challenged Oyebamiji to prioritiseinfrastructure development and improve the living conditions of residents if elected.
Akpabio said, “On a personal note, I am not impressed by the condition of roads from Ibadan to this state. Osun deserves more than this. Osun should be better than what we have now.”
He charged the APC candidate to begin the transformation of the state immediately after assumption of office.
He stated, “Let me at this point charge our incoming governor, AMBO, to ensure that he transforms Osun State through the provision of quality infrastructure and delivery of true dividends of democracy from his very first day in office.”
Kwara State Governor and Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, urged stakeholders to come out en masse and vote for the APC candidate.
AbdulRazaq stressed that Oyebamiji was close to the president, and would be able to attract more federal government presence to the state, saying he would not disappoint the people of the state.
Oyebamiji, in his remarks, appreciated the APC National Working Committee (NWC) for the support given to him, saying the party is well-structured.
He promised that if elected, his government would be an inclusive, stressing that government is a serious business.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, said the people of Osun should give their vote to the party’s candidate, saying APC is not known for violence, trouble, and intimidation, but is built on good ideology.
Uzodimma stressed that the people should give Tinubu good support in an effort to fix a better Nigeria for all.
In an interesting twist of events, a former presidential candidate of Accord Party, Professor Chris Imumolen, declared support for Oyebamiji.
Imumolen claimed that all Accord members, stakeholders, supporters would give their vote to the APC candidate.
Others at the rally included Speaker of House of Representatives, TajudeenAbbas; Deputy Senate President, Barau Jubril; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; Chief Adebisi Akande; Adegboyega Oyetola; and Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Equally present were Ondo Stte Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa; Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun; Kwara State Governor Abdulrazaq AbdulRahman; Edo State Governor Monday Okpobolo; Ekiti State Governor Abiodun Oyebanji; and APC candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sarafadeen Alli.
There were also National Secretary of APC, Bashir Ajibola; Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; Deputy Governor of Delta State, Monday John; APC governorship candidate in Lagos State, and incumbent Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni; National Chairman of APC, Professor NentaweYilwatda; Prof Olu Aina; and Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
Adeleke Decries Esa-Oke Killing, Orders More Security, Cautions Against Incitement
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, Thursday, condemned the recent killings in Esa Oke part of the state and the subsequent destruction of property.
Adeleke also commiserated with the families of the deceased and other victims of the recent political violence across the state.
The governor directed security agencies to intensify surveillance and security operations in Esa-Oke and environs, while ordering the police to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that the perpetrators were apprehended and brought to justice.
Adeleke described the incident as an unfortunate consequence of reckless political incitement, urging political leaders and their supporters across Ijeshaland and Osun State to refrain from actions and utterances capable of triggering violence.
The governor said, “We all have families and friends. We should not preach violence. Senator Fadahunsi issued killing directive; the next day, somebody was killed at Esa Oke, his own zone.”
Adeleke also commiserated with the families of the more than 15 Accord members reportedly killed so far, as well as those whose homes were raided and vandalised, as well as Accord Party members who were illegally arrested in Ikire.
He stated, “Aside Esa Oke, over 20 homes of Accord members were raided last night at Ikire. Some were illegally arrested while houses of others were vandalised. This is not politics again.
“I challenge our opponents to let us fight through the ballot. Since we are practising democracy, we must allow our people to vote. My strength and that of my party is God and the people. We are winning on Saturday.”
Adeleke urged the people of Esa Oke, Ijeshaland, and Osun State, generally, to resist the temptation of attacks and counter-attacks, stressing that the forthcoming election must be conducted peacefully and every voter must be allowed to freely cast their ballot.
He called on political actors to allow peace to reign, warning against the activities of politicians who seek to exploit political differences to shed blood.
IGP Bars State-Established Security Outfits, Others from Participating in Poll Security
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has announced the prohibition of state-established security outfits, quasi-security groups and private security organisations from participating in election-security duties, stating that the prohibition was consistent with established Nigeria Police Force (NPF) election-security directives.
Disu reiterated the ban on armed escorts, security aides, and other unauthorised persons accompanying political figures or VIPs to polling units or collation centres on election day.
He warned political actors, their supporters and all intending troublemakers that ballot snatching, voter intimidation, political thuggery and every other electoral offence would attract prompt arrest and prosecution.
The police boss also announced the deployment of Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Ishyaku Mohammed to Osun State to coordinate election-security operations for the governorship election scheduled for Saturday.
According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP AnietieIniedu, the deployment was part of the Nigeria Police operational measures to ensure a peaceful, secure, and credible electoral process across the state.
He said Mohammed would coordinate the police component of the election-security arrangements and work closely with other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
He would be supported by Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police strategically deployed across the state’s three senatorial districts to supervise operations, strengthen intelligence-led policing and ensure a prompt response to emerging threats.
“The Force has put in place adequate security arrangements for the protection of voters, INEC personnel, election materials, polling units, collation centres, accredited observers and media practitioners before, during and after the election,” the statement said.
The force reassured residents, voters and visitors in Osun State of adequate security and urged all eligible citizens to exercise their franchise peacefully and without fear.
Iniedu said the force remained committed to professionalism, neutrality, respect for human rights and the protection of the electoral process.
At the same time, Kwara State Police Commissioner, Mr. Adekimi Ojo, urged officers and men of the command deployed for governorship election in Osun State to remain neutral and guarded against professional misconduct.
In a statement in Ilorin by the police command spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, Ojo conveyed to the personnel the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tunji Disu, that police officers and men deployed for election duties must remain apolitical and impartial in the election.
Similarly, Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, tasked officers of the command deployed to Osun State for special election duty to demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism, discipline, neutrality and respect for the rule of law throughout the assignment. Azare stated this while addressing the officers before their departure from the state for the special election duty.
He told them that election duty was a sensitive national responsibility and their conduct must reflect the integrity, discipline and professionalism expected of personnel of the Nigeria Police.
Azare warned the officers against partisanship, intimidation of voters, extortion, harassment, unnecessary use of force, incivility, abandonment of duty posts, consumption of alcohol while on duty, or any other act capable of bringing the Nigeria Police into disrepute.
Return Osun to Mainstream, Barau Urges Voters
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, urged the people of Osun State to vote for the APC governorship candidate, Chief Bola Oyebamiji, on Saturday, saying the move would return the state to Nigeria’s political mainstream and accelerate its development.
Barau, who is Secretary of the APC National Campaign Council for the Osun governorship election, made the call on Thursday at the party’s grand campaign mega rally held at Freedom Park, Osogbo, amid a crowd of supporters.
He identified poor leadership and Osun State’s exclusion from the mainstream of national politics as major factors undermining the state’s development.
He said Osun possessed enormous human and natural resources capable of transforming its economy, but had lacked the leadership required to harness the resources for the benefit of its people.
Barau stated, “Osun State is a state that has enormous potential and enormous resources, both natural and human. But the problem is that it doesn’t have a governor to harness these resources.
“What is needed at this moment is to elect APC’s AMBO, who has the requisite pedigree and the requisite background to harness these resources.”
Chuks Okocha, Michael Olugbode, Sunday Aborisade, Linus Aleke, Yinka Kolawole, Hammed Shittu, Okon Bassey and Felix Omoh-Asun
